ESV

I’ve gotta say, this has been an incredibly productive and fruitful year so far, at least as far as my Bible reading goes. I’m currently three-quarters through Exodus, which keeps me on track for completing a full reading of the Bible by the end of the year.1 Doing this is really important to me, not because I’m obsessive about reading plans, but because as I came to the end of last year, I realized just how low my tank had become.

As part of this recommitment to taking better care of myself spiritually, I’ve reincorporated journaling into my private reading. This allows me to engage with the text in a different way, to capture items of prayer and (more than a few) ideas for things to write about here. I used to do this all the time as a new Christian, usually using journals and notebooks.2 But over time, I got out of the habit. So, I thought I’d start doing it again—this time with a fancy schmancy new journaling Bible.

I went with the HCSB notetaking Bible as I started the year. But a couple weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to look at a few different ones from Crossway.Today, I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on four Bibles—what I like, what I’m not keen on, and which I believe you should consider. Here’s the line-up:

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been using this one in my daily Bible reading, and it’s been great from a few perspectives, particularly with ease of reading. I love the ESV, and it’s a wonderful Bible, but let’s be honest: it can be a bit clunky, at times. The HCSB is much easier to read, while maintaining a commitment to accuracy with the translation, though it does lose some of the wordplay that I do appreciate about the ESV.

From a usability standpoint, this Bible is great. It’s surprisingly portable3, light and has a decent column width for writing (roughly two inches). The single column layout for the text also keeps the page from feeling too cluttered, which is also handy.

Although some people find the space provided in the notes column to be a little small in these sorts of Bibles, I find it quite comfortable to use. It’s got just enough space for me to be able to get my thoughts out (though more isn’t a bad thing). And for those who care about such things, the paper has a nice feel to it. It’s a bit heavier than your standard Bible stock, so it’s rare when you find a bit of ink bleeding through onto the opposite side of the page.

The one not-a-real-complaint I have about this one is the font it’s set in. The vast majority of people wouldn’t care about such a thing (heck, I only care because I’m a former graphic designer). While it’s easy enough to read (though a touch smaller than I’d like), it’s boxier and almost a bit utilitarian in feel.

This one is very similar to the HCSB in most respects, being equally as portable and user-friendly. The only significant differences I’ve found (positive and negative) are pretty minor.

The first positive has to do with the typesetting, which is much more elegant than the HCSB. Whomever Crossway had work on this should get a gold star. The second positive has to do with the cover. The version I looked at has a really nice leather-like cover that isn’t quite as rigid as the HCSB’s. This allows the book to lay a little flatter (though neither do so perfectly).

That said, for those who’ve got concerns about columns and line height, this is one area where the HCSB wins out. The columns are about about an eighth of an inch narrower compared to the HCSB, and you can feel that narrowness when you look at it. For a guy who suffers from a severe case of left-handed dude writing, this matters. A lot. I need to feel like I’ve got enough space to work, and this one doesn’t quite offer that.

However, my wife doesn’t have this problem, and immediately claimed this one as her own upon its arrival. But then, she has crazy tiny (though quite lovely) writing…

The Writer’s Edition was the one I was most disappointed in. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to like about it. The fonts are lovely. It’s designed in the style of a really nice notebook, and has the note-taking area at the bottom of the page, rather than in a column along the side. For those who love the two-column Bible reading experience, this is a huge plus.

That said, my first reaction to this Bible was that it feels narrow, almost cramped, and doesn’t sit nicely on a table. While the positioning of the notes area is nice, I don’t find it leaves you without a lot of space to write. As a leftie, even holding a pen over the area felt strange (I don’t enjoy the feeling of having my hand already off the page when I’m writing). Although some might feel differently, I’d probably give this one a pass.

Finally, there’s the ESV Interleaved Edition. This Bible is a beast, easily weighing as much as your ESV Study Bible. But there’s a good reason for that: modelled after Jonathan Edwards’ Bible, this one provides you with a full blank page between every printed page of text, giving you the maximum space for taking notes, writing personal reflections and prayers, or (if you’re the type that does this) making pretty pictures.

I love love love the interleaved style. It is absolutely brilliant and allows a user to write a lot. It’s the Bible for serious thought, serious art, or just seriously large writing.

Writing in it (which I did—or more correctly, I did on a piece of paper I placed inside it) is easy enough and the size of the book did not create any major problems (this is important again, because leftie). The paper weight is also the heaviest of all the Bibles I’ve highlighted today, meaning you’re going to have the least issues with ink bleeding through.

My only real complaint is it’s not terribly portable. Because of its size, you probably don’t want to be hauling this one to church every week and taking notes in it (though you could if you’re looking to incorporate a workout into your worship). It really is for personal use only. But even having said this, the Interleaved Edition is basically the answer to most every major concern people have about these sorts of Bibles.

So, what do I recommend?

These are all really, really nice Bibles, so choosing one to recommend probably isn’t going to happen. The only one I wouldn’t recommend, as I’ve said above, is the ESV Writer’s Edition. It’s definitely the least appealing of all of them from my perspective. For the majority of Bible readers who want to take notes during their personal study and write down sermon notes, the HCSB Notetaking Bible and the ESV Single Column Journaling Bible are probably the best options, and I would recommend them in a heartbeat. For those looking for the most space possible, the ESV Interleaved Edition is a dream come true—though do yourself a favor and splurge on a really nice leather one. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

The 2015 TGC National Conference kicks off this afternoon in Orlando, Florida. If you aren’t able to attend, be sure to take advantage of the livestream throughout the event. And if you are here, come say hello if you see me around.

Kindle deals for Christian readers

Crossway’s put eight books on sale this week, all focusing on the subject of suffering:

In college, I joined a club that sought to foster a sense of community through secrecy. We sought to build fraternity through exclusivity, private ritual experiences, and of course, password-handshakes. The idea was that relationships grow deeper by cutting others out and surrounding ourselves in mystery and darkness.

Sometimes we can treat Christian worship like an insider’s club. And who doesn’t want to be included in a family-like brotherhood and sisterhood? But the New Testament blueprint for worship gatherings has little room for secrecy. Rather, hospitality rises to the top of the values we want to characterize our Sunday morning services.

One of my favorite times of the day, after coming home and greeting my family is seeing what mail has arrived. This is not because I super-love receiving bills in the mail, but because I’m in the position where a number of Christian publishers regularly send me copies of many of the latest Christian books. Here’s a quick look at a few of the most interesting in the latest batch:

You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis and Lisa Chan

In his latest book, Francis Chan joins together with his wife Lisa to address the question many couples wonder at the altar: How do I have a great marriage? Setting aside typical topics on marriage, Francis and Lisa dive into Scripture to understand what it means to have a relationship that satisfies the deepest parts of our souls.

100% of the net profits from You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity will go towards providing food, shelter and rehabilitation for thousands of orphaned children and exploited women in partnership with global charities.

Applicable for women in any stage of life, the Women’s Devotional Bible is theologically rich in content while remaining accessible and practical. Readers will be encouraged in daily, prayerful Bible study, and equipped to understand and apply the Bible to every aspect of life.

The Stories We Tell: How TV and Movies Long for and Echo the Truth by Mike Cosper

From horror flicks to rom-coms, the tales we tell and the myths we weave inevitably echo the narrative underlying all of history: the story of humanity’s tragic sin and God’s triumphant salvation. This entertaining book connects the dots between the stories we tell and the one great Story—helping us better understand the longings of the human heart and thoughtfully engage with the movies and TV shows that capture our imaginations.

Dane Ortlund invites us to explore the great eighteenth-century pastor’s central passion: God’s resplendent beauty. Whether the topic was the nature of love, the preeminence of Scripture, or the glory of the natural world, the concept of beauty stood at the heart of Edwards’s theology and permeated his portrait of the Christian life. Clear and engaging, this accessible volume will inspire you to embrace Edwards’s magnificent vision of what it means to be a Christian: enjoying and reflecting of the beauty of God in all things.

Truth in a Culture of Doubt by Andreas Köstenberger, Darrell Bock, and Josh Chatraw

Truth in a Culture of Doubt takes a closer look at the key arguments skeptical scholars such as Ehrman keep repeating in radio interviews, debates, and in his their popular writings. If you are looking for insightful responses to critical arguments from a biblical perspective, easily accessible and thoughtfully presented, this book is for you. This is the first book to provide a comprehensive response to Ehrman’s popular works. It is presented in such a way that readers can either read straight through the book or use it as a reference when particular questions arise. Responding to skeptical scholars such as Ehrman, Truth in a Culture of Doubt takes readers on a journey to explain topics such as the Bible’s origins, the copying of the Bible, alleged contradictions in Scripture, and the relationship between God and evil. Written for all serious students of Scripture, this book will enable you to know how to respond to a wide variety of critical arguments raised against the reliability of Scripture and the truthfulness of Christianity.

This thorough study of the Bible’s teaching on men and women aims to help a new generation of Christians live for Christ in today’s world. Moving beyond other treatments that primarily focus on select passages, this winsome volume traces Scripture’s overarching pattern related to male-female relationships in both the Old and New Testaments. Those interested in careful discussion rather than caustic debate will discover that God’s design is not confining or discriminatory but beautiful, wise, liberating, and good.

This one’s a bit of a cheat since it’s about 200 years old and I bought it. But I bought it on the recommendation of Karen Swallow Prior.

Tom, a foundling, is discovered one evening by the benevolent Squire Allworthy and his sister Bridget and brought up as a son in their household; when his sexual escapades and general misbehavior lead them to banish him, he sets out in search of both his fortune and his true identity. Amorous, high-spirited, and filled with what Fielding called “the glorious lust of doing good,” but with a tendency toward dissolution, Tom Jones is one of the first characters in English fiction whose human virtues and vices are realistically depicted. This edition is set from the text of the Wesleyan Edition of the Works of Henry Fielding.